Kilroy clapped his hands once. "The chair will entertam nominations for- Hey, Grant, if we don't call it 'captain,' then what should we call it?"
"Mmm..." Cowper said judicially. "'President' seems a little pompous. I think 'mayor' would be about right-mayor of our city-state, our village."
"The chair will entertain nominations for mayor.
"Hey!" demanded Jimmy Throxton. "Doesn't anybody else get to shoot off his face?"
"Out of order."
"No," Cowper objected, "I don't think you should rule Jimmy out of order, Roy. Anyone who has something to contribute should be encouraged to speak. We mustn't act hastily."
"Okay, Throxton, speak your piece."
"Oh, I didn't want to sound off. I just didn't like the squeeze play."
"All right, the chair stands corrected. Anybody else? If not, we will entertain-"
"One moment, Mr. Chairman!"
Rod saw that it was Arthur Nielsen, one of the Teller University group. He managed to look neat even in these circumstances but he had strayed into camp bereft of all equipment, without even a knife. He had been quite hungry.
Kilroy looked at him. "You want to talk, Waxie?"
"Nielsen is the name. Or Arthur. As you know. Yes."
"Okay. Keep it short."
"I shall keep it as short as circumstances permit. Fellow associates, we have here a unique opportunity, probably one which has not occurred before in history. As Cowper pointed out, we must proceed with care. But, already we have set out on the wrong foot. Our object should be to found the first truly scientific community. Yet what do I find? You are proposing to select an executive by counting noses! Leaders should not be chosen by popular whim; they should be determined by rigorous scientific criteria. Once selected, those leaders must have full scientific freedom to direct the bio-group in accordance with natural law, unhampered by such artificial anachronisms as statutes, constitutions, and courts of law. We have here an adequate supply of healthy females; we have the means to breed scientifically a new race, a super race, a race which, if I may say so-"
A handful of mud struck Nielsen in the chest; he stopped suddenly. "I saw who did that!" he said angrily. Just the sort of nincompoop who always-"
"Order, order, please!" Kilroy shouted. "No mudsling or I'll appoint a squad of sergeants-at-arms. Are you through, Waxie?"
"I was just getting started."
"Just a moment," put in Cowper. "Point of order Mr. Chairman. Arthur has a right to be heard. But I think he speaking before the wrong body. We're going to have a constitutional committee, I'm sure. He should present his arguments to them. Then, if we like them, we can adopt his ideas."
"You're right, Grant. Sit down, Waxie."
"Huh? I appeal!"
Roy Kilroy said briskly, "The chair has ruled this out of order at this time and the speaker has appealed to the house, a priority motion not debatable. All in favor of supporting the chair's ruling, which is for Waxie to shut up, make it known by saying 'Aye.'"
There was a shouted chorus of assent. "Opposed: 'No.' Sit down, Waxie."
Kilroy looked around. "Anybody else?"
"Yes"
"I can't see. Who is it?"
"Bill Kennedy, Ponce de Leon class. I don't agree with Nielsen except on one point: we are fiddling around with the wrong things. Sure, we need a group captain but, aside from whatever it takes to eat, we shouldn't think about anything but how to get back. I don't want a scientific society; I'd settle for a hot bath and decent food."
There was scattered applause. The chairman said, "I'd like a bath, too... and I'd fight anybody for a dish of cornflakes. But, Bill, how do you suggest that we go about it?"
"Huh? We set up a crash-priority project and build a gate. Everybody works on it."
There was silence, then several talked at once: "Crazy! No uranium." - "We might find uranium." - "Where do we get the tools? Shucks, I don't even have a screwdriver." - "But where are we?" - "It is just a matter of-"
"Quiet!" yelled Kilroy. "Bill, do you know how to build a gate?"
"No"
"I doubt if anybody does."
"That's a defeatist attitude. Surely some of you educated blokes from Teller have studied the subject. You should get together, pool what you know, and put us to work. Sure, it may take a long time. But that's what we ought to do."
Cowper said, just a minute, Roy. Bill, I don't dispute what you say; every idea should be explored. We're bound to set up a planning committee. Maybe we had better elect a mayor, or a captain, or whatever you want to call him-and then dig into your scheme when we can discuss it in detail. I think it has merit and should be discussed at length. What do you think?"
"Why, sure, Grant. Let's get on with the election. I just didn't want that silly stuff about breeding a superman to be the last word."
"Mr. Chairman! I protest-"
"Shut up, Waxie. Are you ready with nominations for mayor? If there is no objection, the chair rules debate closed and will entertain nominations."
"I nominate Grant Cowper!"
"Second!"
"I second the nomination."
"Okay, I third it!"
"Let's make it unanimous! Question, question!"
Jimmy Throxton's voice cut through the shouting, "I NOMINATE ROD WALKER!"
Bob Baxter stood up. "Mr. Chairman?"
"Quiet, everybody. Mr. Baxter."
"I second Rod Walker."
"Okay. Two nominations, Grant Cowper and Rod Walker. Are there any more?"
There was a brief silence. Then Rod spoke up. "Just a second, Roy." He found that his voice was trembling and he took two deep breaths before he went on. "I don't want it. I've had all the grief I want for a while and I'd like a rest. Thanks anyhow, Bob. Thanks, Jimmy."
"Any further nominations?"
"Just a sec, Roy... point of personal privilege." Grant Cowper stood up. "Rod, I know how you feel. Nobody in his right mind seeks public office... except as a duty, willingness to serve. If you withdraw, I'm going to exercise the same privilege; I don't want the headaches any more than you do."
"Now wait a minute, Grant. You-"
"You wait a minute. I don't think either one of us should withdraw; we ought to perform any duty that is handed to us, just as we stand a night watch when it's our turn. But I think we ought to have more nominations." He looked around. "Since that mix-up this morning we have as many girls as men . . yet both of the candidates are male. That's not right. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I nominate Caroline Mshiyeni."
"Huh? Hey, Grant, don't be silly. I'd look good as a lady mayoress, wouldn't I? Anyhow, I'm for Roddie."
"That's your privilege, Caroline. But you ought to let yourself be placed before the body, just like Rod and myself."
"Nobody's going to vote for me!"
"That's where you're wrong. I'm going to vote for you. But we still ought to have more candidates."
"Three nominations before the house," Kilroy announced. "Any more? If not, I declare the-"
"Mr. Chairman!"
"Huh? Okay, Waxie, you want to nominate somebody?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Me"
"You want to nominate yourself?"
"I certainly do. What's funny about that? I am running on a platform of strict scientific government. I want the rational minds in this group to have someone to vote for."
Kilroy looked puzzled. "I'm not sure that is correct parliamentary procedure. I'm afraid I'll have to over-"